Discovering The Pilates IT Factor™
I have trained, coached, hired, and observed fitness and Pilates instructors for nearly four decades, including some of the best in the field. During this time, one question has always lingered in the back of my mind:
“What gives an instructor that special something, that spark, that keeps their classes full and their clients loyal?”
I could sense it instantly, whether during an audition or simply watching someone teach. I knew this person had “it,” but I could not define what “it” was. It was not knowledge or perfect cueing or flawless technique. It was something more. It was a feeling.
Everything began to crystallize when I started hiring instructors to teach on camera for Pilates & Fitness TV. Instructors who were magnetic in person were not always magnetic on camera. When you teach on camera, there is no feedback, no reaction, and no energy to play off. The camera strips everything away and all that is left is you. Every communication skill becomes amplified: your voice, your body language, and your presence. Suddenly it is all right there in its purest form.
That is when I realized that beyond knowledge and programming, exceptional communication is what transforms a class into an unforgettable experience. This realization pushed me to study communication not only as an art, but also as a science.
For two years, I explored fields outside of Pilates. I studied Keynote Speaking, neuroscience, psychology, vocal theory, emotional intelligence, and movement education. After nearly four decades of searching, I finally had the answer.
“The Pilates IT Factor™ is exceptional communication.”
It is how an instructor uses their voice, body language, energy, and presence to help clients feel seen, safe, and inspired. It is the bridge between what you know and what your clients actually receive. Without great communication, even the best knowledge can fall flat.
I have spent the past two years turning this understanding into a comprehensive program to help Pilates teachers find their own IT factor. In 2025, I traveled to nineteen cities across the United States teaching The Pilates IT Factor™ Foundations Workshop. Now I am thrilled to make the next phase available to every instructor through The Pilates IT Factor Guide and the On Demand Course.
The Origin Story: How The Pilates IT Factor Guide Came to Life
The idea did not start in a classroom. It began when I sold my Pilates studio after eighteen years. I did not expect the flood of letters and messages from clients who shared how our classes had supported them through illness, grief, divorce, burnout, and some of the hardest seasons of their lives.
“I always knew Pilates could change bodies. What I did not fully understand was how deeply communication, our words, tone, presence, and energy, could change someone’s life.”
That insight made me look differently at the thousands of instructors I have trained. Some were technically brilliant yet struggled to connect. Others, even with less experience, lit up a room from the moment they walked in. Why?
I studied how the nervous system responds to tone, pacing, facial expression, and posture, and how hormones like oxytocin and cortisol shift based on how we communicate. Layer by layer, the pieces came together and The 5 Pilates Teacher Archetypes™ emerged. They are dynamic and trainable communication styles that any instructor can use with intention.
Why This Work Matters Now
The Pilates industry is expanding rapidly. More instructors are entering the field, more are teaching online, and more studios are opening every day. It is exciting, but it also means that connection matters more than ever.
Technique alone does not set an instructor apart:
Communication does. Presence does. Connection does.
The Pilates IT Factor Guide is my way of giving back to the industry that has given me so much. I cannot wait to hear how it enhances your teaching, your confidence, your connection with clients, and your impact.
Meet Me at The Pilates Journal Expo!
I am thrilled to share this work at The Pilates Journal Expo. At our booth, you will be able to:
Explore The Pilates IT Factor Guide - being debuted at The Pilates Journal Expo
Learn about the On Demand Course - coming soon
Connect with Pilates & Fitness TV
Discover continuing education through Pilates Grad School
I hope you will stop by and experience this work firsthand. The IT Factor is not something you are born with.
The Pilates IT Factor is something you build with intention, awareness, and the right tools.